Latest news with #WeddingWire
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
The Knot Worldwide Announces New Products to Help Wedding Professionals Get Discovered and Connect with More Couples
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Knot Worldwide, a leading global marketplace and family of brands championing celebration, today announced several new product updates for wedding professionals advertising on The Knot and WeddingWire. From new storefront badges that highlight wedding pros to prospective couples, to AI advancements and inbox tools designed for working smarter and faster, these features on WeddingPro will help vendors stand out, improve their performance and connect with more couples. 'We're raising the bar for the wedding professionals we serve,' said Raina Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer of The Knot Worldwide. 'Pros rely on us to get discovered and grow their business, and we take that responsibility seriously. These new features are designed to help them stand out, save time and ultimately focus on what they love most—creating unforgettable experiences for couples. With these product updates, we're delivering even more value on the WeddingPro platform and enabling more meaningful connections between wedding pros and the couples they serve.' The following features are now live or coming soon to U.S. vendors who advertise on WeddingPro: 1. Getting Discovered and Driving Meaningful Connections with Couples Storefront Improvements: Over the past year, new tools have been launched to help vendors create more impactful Storefronts that make it easier to showcase the information couples care most about, like pricing and availability. According to data from The Knot and WeddingWire, 77% of couples consider pricing to be the most important factor when deciding which vendors to contact. In fact, vendors who complete their Storefronts with details like this see nearly twice as many two-way conversations with couples, on average, than those who don't. Through the WeddingPro dashboard, vendors have the ability to add advanced pricing—including starting price, what couples usually spend and displaying packages—and availability to their storefronts. New Badges: Two new badges that help pros attract visits to their Storefront and capture the attention of couples, while celebrating the effort they're putting in to keep their Storefronts updated. The 'Recently Updated' Badge is now live that identifies paid vendors who have recently updated their Storefront with new information in the last 15 days, letting couples know their information is current and reliable. The 'Popular with Couples' Badge launches soon that promotes paid vendors who are trending and have received more than five leads within seven days, highlighting their credibility and building trust with couples as they browse. Deals on The Knot: A long-standing and popular feature on WeddingWire is now available on The Knot. Paid vendors have an improved and streamlined ability to create, manage and highlight deals directly on their Storefronts, helping them stand out and turn more leads into bookings. Helping Couples Close the Loop with Vendors: To reduce ghosting, a new feature within the couple inbox is now live that helps them easily close conversations with vendors when they decide to go in a different direction. Through this improved experience, vendors aren't left hanging and receive insights on why, arming them with the right data to empower them in future lead opportunities. Coming soon, more notifications to couples and a dedicated marketing campaign to help educate why closing conversations with vendors matters. Plus, notifications in vendor inboxes and emails, helping pros quickly identify and focus on couples who are ready to move forward. As a trusted partner to both couples and wedding pros, The Knot Worldwide is uniquely positioned to guide behavior that creates an effective experience and positive outcomes for both. 2. Smart, Time Saving Tools Smarter, Faster Lead Management: Enhancing the lead management experience with automation and intelligent support to help vendors respond faster, keep couples engaged and convert more leads with less effort. New iOS WeddingPro App: By end of year, The Knot Worldwide plans to introduce a new, modern WeddingPro iOS app to help pros manage communication, and respond quickly and efficiently, on the go. Upleveled Quick Replies: Templated messages are now available for vendors to use to respond to couple inquiries faster and more efficiently, with smart fields that pull in details like the couple's name, wedding date and location. Soon, vendors will also be able to add and save attachments they commonly send to new leads. Customizable Auto-Replies: Keeping up with lead replies can be tough while also managing the day-to-day. An auto-reply feature within the vendor inbox is now live that can automatically respond to couples' messages when pros are unavailable. This new automatic tool helps vendors keep conversations moving forward by providing helpful information to couples, such as FAQs and pricing details, and a quick acknowledgement that their message was received. Auto Follow-Ups: Coming this fall, advanced features will provide pros with the ability to set up automated messages within the WeddingPro Inbox to customize their lead follow-up strategy—including options to schedule messages based on ideal timing, like a gentle nudge a few days after initial outreach. AI-Powered Features: In addition to automation tools, rolling out later this year, AI-assisted replies in the WeddingPro Inbox will offer smart, personalized recommendations to get started and save time. Powered by lead reply data, these tools aim to make it easy for vendors to quickly send confident, tailored, effective responses that help convert leads into bookings. 3. Quick, Reliable Support Expanded Support Hours: Support is now available Monday through Friday 8AM- 8PM ET via phone or email. Help Center: By end of year, The Knot and WeddingWire help centers will be combined into one streamlined, easy-to-use Help Center, including more self-service resources and an always-on chat feature to get quicker answers. 'Innovation on our platform is driven by the needs of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. pros we support—and guided by a deep understanding of how today's couples make wedding planning decisions,' said Casey Moujaes, Vice President of U.S. Vendor Marketing at The Knot Worldwide. 'Backed by data, this feedback shaped our second half of year roadmap to focus on enhancing our tools that help vendors create quality matches with couples, save time, get the support they need and stay focused on booking more couples.' As a leader in the global wedding industry, The Knot Worldwide has helped more than 44 million global couples plan their wedding from start to finish. Garnering more than 43 million visitors per month and over 14.6 million reviews of wedding professionals across its global sites, The Knot Worldwide helps couples make informed decisions about which vendors to hire based on real couple feedback. For more information, view the exclusive WeddingPro First Look: What's New, What's Next webinar hosted by The Knot Worldwide CEO Raina Moskowitz. Stay up to date on the latest news at WeddingPro. About The Knot Worldwide In more than 16 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia, The Knot Worldwide champions the power of celebration. The company's global family of brands provide best-in-class products, services and content to take celebration planning from inspiration to action. Through its wedding brands, including The Knot, WeddingWire, and others, the company offers an extensive database of hundreds of thousands of wedding professionals to assist couples in organizing the happiest day of their lives. We have a brand for every kind of celebration—from booking a birthday party, to planning a wedding, to preparing to become a parent, and every moment in between. About WeddingPro WeddingPro is The Knot Worldwide's U.S. business-to-business wedding brand. As the largest wedding Vendor Marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects small businesses with millions of engaged couples each year on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, performance insights, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to giving wedding professionals access to the largest community of couples, a network of pros and data-backed guidance to help them grow their businesses.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is the most popular time of year to get married in Oklahoma? See why brides love it
One of the first decisions newly-engaged couples make is the date of their upcoming nuptials. It's a personal choice for everyone — maybe you've always dreamed of a June wedding, or saying "I do" with crisp fall foliage in the background. But while everyone has different reasons for getting married when they do, there are some months and seasons that are more popular than others. For Oklahoma, this rings true. Here's the most popular month and time of year to get married in the Sooner State, and why. What is the most popular month to get married in Oklahoma? June and September are the most popular months to get married in Oklahoma, according to Wedding Wire. Meanwhile, the most popular month to get married across the nation was October, which held steady between 2017 and 2020, according to the 2020 Wedding Wire Newlywed Report. According to a blog post from Westwood Barn, a wedding venue in Guthrie, "fall is arguably the most popular season for Oklahoma weddings." Rose Briar Place, a popular wedding venue in Oklahoma City, agrees that fall is the most popular time to get married in Oklahoma. This means it's important to book your wedding venue and vendors early. According to a Tulsa-based photographer, Resolusean, the best "month" to get married in Oklahoma is actually Oct. 20 through Nov. 10, when accounting for temperature, weather, travel conditions and the environment. Why do Oklahomans choose to get married in the fall? So, why are the fall months of September, October and November so popular for Oklahomans getting married? According to Westwood Barn, some perks to getting married during the Oklahoma fall season include the typically mild weather and changing foliage. Resolusean also points out that the fall season has some of the lowest chances of severe weather, be it tornadoes or ice and snow. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Which months are the most popular to get married in Oklahoma? See why Solve the daily Crossword
Time Business News
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Planning More Efficient
Just got engaged? Congratulations! The wedding planning is where the real fun begins. You might not know where to begin unless you are among the few individuals who possess a talent for time management and organization. You have a lot to think about, from venue selection and tours to organizing wedding vendors, organizing wedding party details, and selecting a dress. Thus, a streamlined, effective strategy is required! You are not alone in this. To turn the turmoil and stress of wedding planning into a truly joyful experience, follow the ten actions listed below for well planned wedding. The first action you must take? Establish a strict, unchangeable budget. You will have fewer disappointments later in the game if you are upfront with yourself about your financial situation from the start. Spend some time researching the average prices of various wedding components before settling on a budget. Depending on the season, day of the week, and region you choose, prices can vary significantly. You will not get much out of a set budget unless you keep a close eye on your wedding costs. Make a note of every wedding-related purchase you make using a digital budgeting tool, spreadsheet, or paper notepad. Our top picks for cost-free budgeting resources are as follows: The Knot's Expense Tracker & Budget Calculator The Wedding Budget Planner on WeddingWire Bridal Musings' Spreadsheets for Wedding Budgets Keep an eye on your spending plan and be aware of any additional expenses or fees related to certain vendor contracts. Early on, it is critical that you and your partner agree on your wedding priorities. We advise making two lists: A list of 'must-have' items A list of 'nice-to-have' Avoid the temptation to plan out the specifics of your lower-priority items before you have gotten all the necessities, even though some of them may be more dazzling and thrilling. You should start reducing your 'nice-to-have' list only after you have crossed off every item on your 'must-have' list. Every wedding location has a unique approach to the planning process. A dedicated on-staff wedding organizer might be assigned to you by some. Others may demand that you collaborate with a day-of coordinator or wedding planner (of your own choosing). When choosing your location, go for one with a proven planning procedure. Later on, this will save you a great deal of time and problems. Even better, some locations will offer a thorough list of nearby businesses, eliminating a significant amount of time-consuming wedding preparation. You will value a small amount of assistance in reducing the large list of local merchants to a few well selected choices, even while you do not want to choose a location that takes away ALL of your vendor flexibility. After selecting a location, familiarize yourself with its vendor policies, décor, guest capacity, day-of schedule, and other important information. Usually, the venue's website or your coordinator or representative may provide you with this information. It is also a fantastic idea to look for any pertinent information and restrictions on the FAQs part of your wedding venue's website. It will be less confusing and time-consuming to have a firm understanding of your venue's restrictions PRIOR to working with vendors and organizing other aspects of the event. You can move through the process with assurance if you maintain organization, set priorities, and welcome flexibility. Planning your special day may be effective, pleasurable, and even enjoyable if you take the proper approach! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The key to landing a CFO role? Absolute transparency, says MarginEdge's finance chief
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. The path to the CFO seat has broadened in recent years, as finance leaders see their responsibilities evolving. When looking to land her first CFO role — recently becoming the top finance executive at restaurant management software firm MarginEdge — 'what worked for me was absolute transparency with my team, with my bosses, with the C-suite,' said Emma Whelan. ''Yeah, I'd like to be a CFO someday. What can I do to flesh out my expertise?'' Most recently the chief accounting officer for wedding website The Knot Worldwide, Whelan took on the top financial seat for the Arlington, Virginia-based restaurant management and bill payment platform last month, according to a press release. In seeking out the CFO role, Whelan cultivated open communication with past bosses and mentors — including CFOs at her previous companies — and took their guidance to hone the skills and expertise needed for the position, including volunteering to take on projects that may have been outside of traditional accounting responsibilities. 'I'm not sure that would have happened if I hadn't been so open and transparent, because I was pulled into things that wouldn't have been in the traditional CAO wheelhouse,' Whelan said in an interview. The opportunity at MarginEdge, which provides bill payment and other management services to restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality space, came shortly after Whelan began her search for a CFO chair in earnest. She is joining the company as it is poised for significant growth, with MarginEdge having processed $1.7 billion in payments and 22 million invoices, according to the April press release announcing Whelan's appointment. As CFO, her mandate is to set the foundation to allow for that growth, she said, which includes 'fostering a high-performing finance team that will help scale the business and support its long-term vision,' the press release said. Whelan's past two decades of experience as a finance and accounting executive have helped to prepare her for MarginEdge's top finance seat. Beginning her career at KPMG Spain, Whelan joined wedding website WeddingWire in 2013 as its assistant controller, when the company 'was at a very similar stage to where MarginEdge is now in terms of growth, revenue trajectory, size,' she said. As WeddingWire expanded — growing its workforce and becoming a global business — Whelan also rose through its financial ranks, eventually assuming the role of CAO following WeddingWire's merger with XO Group, the operator of The Knot, in a 2018 transaction valued at $933 million, according to a press release at the time. That experience, and the potentially similar growth trajectory MarginEdge could take, is what helped to attract her to the bill payment service's CFO seat, Whelan said. The finance executive also grew up in the hospitality space, at a family pub in Ireland, 'so it just, it felt like coming home, almost,' she said of the decision to assume the role. While her main mandate is building a foundation for future expansion at MarginEdge currently, Whelan's focus as its newly-minted CFO is understanding exactly how the company works, she said. That's included completing sales training at the company, sitting on some of the sessions to understand how the company is pitching its product, she said. 'Ultimately, my job is, yes, to scale us for future growth, but also to support the company and my business partners within the group and resolve their day to day needs and wants,' she said. 'I think I can bring a lot more value to that if I understand exactly what we're doing.' Whelan is also bringing her sense of curiosity and her perspective on the importance of open communication to the role as she charts a path to growth at MarginEdge, she said, with the CFO keeping careful watch on macroeconomic headwinds. As it looks to future growth, the company raised a $45 million Series C in 2022, and acquired beverage management company Freepour in March 2024, among other steps. However, 'obviously what got us to here is not necessarily what's going to get us to the next stage of growth,' Whelan said. 'So we do have to make changes and set the stage for that future growth.' The CFO also stressed the value of communication when it comes to meeting the company's growth goals. 'In terms of external relationships, I really value a lot of transparency with our external partners. So our board, our bank, our auditors, everybody that we work with, I think you gain a lot of goodwill by being honest and transparent and being proactive in communications,' she said. "I would almost say that, coming from an accounting background, you really have to broaden your aperture to get that strategic lens, to get the finance lens, to really have a pulse on the business." Emma Whelan MarginEdge CFO Whelan is also taking on her first CFO role as the position continues to evolve, morphing from a largely back-office function to one of the key leaders driving business strategy — a shift that has also reverberated throughout the whole of the finance function. 'I see the finance group in general within a company as a consultative business partner role, rather than a back-office function,' she said. As the finance function itself evolves, the path to the CFO chair has also changed, with new strategic responsibilities and an ongoing shortage of accounting talent opening up new potential roads to the top finance seat. 'I think there are more ways to the CFO seat than just through a traditional accounting role,' Whelan said. 'And I would also argue that through the accounting role, it's almost getting harder, because the needs and wants of the of the CFO role are broadening. There is a very strategic lens.' 'I would almost say that, coming from an accounting background, you really have to broaden your aperture to get that to get that strategic lens, to get the finance lens, to really have a pulse on the business,' she said of those aspiring to the CFO seat. Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
28-01-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Nuptial.ai Launches AI-Powered Lead Generation System, Setting a New Standard in Wedding Venue Marketing
The AI-powered tour and wedding booking solution delivers hands-free, exclusive, high-quality leads for unmatched efficiency and growth. a top marketing partner for wedding venues in the USA, is excited to announce the launch of its AI-powered lead generation and appointment system, specifically designed to deliver exclusive, qualified wedding venue leads on autopilot. This new solution allows venues to consistently book 30+ qualified tours per month – without the stress of manual follow-up. As a leading marketing company for wedding venues, has mastered venue lead generation, tour, and wedding booking. Traditional platforms like WeddingWire and The Knot often deliver low-quality, generic leads that require venues to sift through unqualified inquiries, wasting time and resources. changes the game by offering a system that provides only high intent leads ready to book tours, allowing venue owners to focus on hosting events and creating unforgettable experiences. This new AI-driven lead generation and appointment system marks a new milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to driving revenue growth for wedding venues across the US. 'Our automated lead nurturing approach reinvents what's possible for wedding venues of all sizes, taking the hassle, guesswork, and frustration out of relying on outdated platforms,' said Miguel Serra, founder of Miguel highlighted AI's role in revolutionizing lead generation in his statement, saying that this technology presents a breakthrough for automated lead nurturing. He emphasized that delivers results that go beyond what traditional advertising or referral platforms can achieve. 'Our goal with is to provide wedding venues with tours and weddings on autopilot, guaranteeing not just qualified prospects but also driving real, measurable growth.' new AI-powered tour and wedding booking system is transforming how wedding venues grow their business. Unlike other methods, which require constant manual effort or reliance on underperforming lead platforms, approach ensures venues receive high-quality, exclusive leads. With this fully automated solution, venue owners no longer need to spend countless hours following up with uninterested couples or dealing with no-shows. Instead, the system ensures that every lead is pre-qualified, engaged, and ready to book a tour, delivering consistently reliable results. is at the same time guaranteeing 100% exclusive leads with its one-venue-per-month growth partnership model. The company ensures that venues working with them have exclusive access to highly qualified leads in their claimed area. Through its combination of battle-tested marketing strategies and its new AI-driven tour booking system, the marketing agency for venues is giving venue owners the confidence they need to invest in their growth. In addition, the company operates on a zero-risk, pay-on-results basis. Venues only pay after successful client engagements. 'We're not just generating leads; we are offering a fully automated system that helps venues book tours on autopilot,' added Miguel. has built its lead generation and marketing strategies on learnings from generating hundreds of booked tours and weddings for wedding venues across the US. From advertising for Miguel's uncle's venue to launching a full-scale marketing agency for wedding venues, has established itself as a top partner for wedding venue owners. Now, with AI technology driving its lead generation and appointment system, is taking the guesswork out of lead generation and lead nurturing, ensuring that its clients never have to lift a finger to secure qualified booked leads. Being a new marketing system in the wedding industry, is offering consultations to help venue owners experience the potential of the lead generation system. The introductory call will provide venues with a no-commitment demo of how the system consistently generates 30+ qualified tours a month and how this is transforming wedding venues across the US. For more information or to book a consultation, visit About is a leading marketing agency that helps wedding venues generate a consistent stream of qualified tours and weddings every month. The company harnesses proven digital marketing strategies and AI technology to tailor lead generation and appointment systems that help venues book tours and weddings on autopilot. Media Contact Company Name: Contact Person: Miguel Serra Email: Send Email Phone: 2108837961 Country: United States Website:
